Apparatus for indicating the position of the water in steam-boilers



H. F. 'HART;

Water and Steam Gage.

110'. 31,803. Patented March 26,1861.

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PPPPPPPPPP o-Lilhugmphlr, Washington. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. HART, OF BROOKLYN, NE XV YORK.

APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE POSITION OF THE WATER IN STEAM-BOILERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'kn wn that I, HENRY F. IIART, of the city of rooklyn, county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful improvement in machines for watching, detecting, and announcing, severally and respectively, through an alarm whistle, low water, high water, and high pressure in steam-boilers, which said invention and improvement I term an automatic water and steam annunciator.

I do declare that the following specifications give a good and full description of it, and its operation, reference being had to the annexed drawings, they making a part of these specifications.

It is composed of, and combines the vessel or high water detector A, the vessel or low water detector B, the safety valve or high steam detector V, L, and the announcing whistle the glass indicator I, and the steam gage G, all connected and turning on the pivot P.

It is constructed with the two hollow vessels A B, one, placed above a level with the other, 'oined and connected by means of the tubes &, C, C, C, and the couplings D, E, so as to give passage to water and steam throughout the said vessels, tubes, and couplings continuously. The said couplings are joined and connected by means of a glass tube or indicator I, so that the passage for water and steam is continued from the said couplings into and through the said glass tube or indicator. On the top of the coupling D is placed the valve V, connected to the lever L by a small rod extending up and through the whistle, and over the said valve, but joined to the coupling D is the announcing whistle W. Under the end of the said lever (which controls the said valve) is a small pin or roller R for the said lever to strike and ride upon, and act as a means of raising the said lever and valve, whenever the instrument is brought into action from either high or low water. On the said lever is placed the regulating weight 0, for loading the lever and valve and gaging the pressure of steam. At the bottom of the coupling E, is a blow-off-cock K, to clean and clear the said glass indicator, and blow off any sediment that may accumulate. There is also a blow-oft'-cock K in each of the said vessels A B.

To one of the tubes O is attached a governing weight or ball H, to be moved backward and forward on said tube su'fficiently far to give any height or range of water that may be wanted before having an announcement from the whistle.

To the coupling D is attached the steam gage G.

The whole combination is attached to the steam boiler by two jointed or flexible pipes: one of the said pipes joining the coupling D, and the steam chamber of the boiler, the other joining the lower coupling E, and the boiler below the point of low water.

The whole of the instrument described is fixed on a pivot or turning point P, and its operation is as follows, to wit: Always, while the boiler contains the right and proper height of water, and the steam pressure is not too great in it, the instrument retains its right position (that is, it is kept balanced to the side of the lower vessel B,) and the valve V is kept closed, and no announcement is given from the whistle. But whenever, from any cause, the waterin the boiler falls below the desired height or point, then the water empties-from the vessel B, sufliciently, so that the instrument is overbalanced by the weight of the opposite vessel A, and of the instrument on that side of the pivot P, until the lever L, strikes, and rides over the pin or roller R, and is raised by the said pin or roller so as to permit steam to pass the valve V, and into the whistle thus sounding and announcing for low water. After the instrument has thus detected and announced for low water, and as soon as the water in the boiler is brought up to its proper height, the water again flows into the vessel B sufliciently so that the weight of the water in the vessel B, overbalances the vessel A, and the instrument on that side, and brings it back to its level and proper position. lVhenever the water rises too high in the boiler, the water then flows into the vessel A sufliciently, and until the weight of the water in the said vessel A overbalances the vessel B and the water in it, and poises the instrument to the side of the vessel A until the lever L strikes and rides over the pin or roller R, and is raised by said pin or roller so as to unload the valve V and let steam pass up and into the whistle sounding and announcing for high water. After this announcement, and as soon as the water in the boiler is reduced to its proper hei ht, the water runs out of the vessel A su 'ciently,

so that the weight of the water in the vessel B, overbalances the vessel A and brings the instrument back to its propel and level position.

lVhenever the steam pressure in the boiler is greater, or higher, than is desired, (the lever L and valve V being always loaded for such pressure as may be wanted, or thought safe) the high pressure on the 'valve V raises the said valve and lever L letting steam into the whistle W', and announcing for high steam pressure. As soon as the steam is blown off, or worked off sufficiently to reduce the pressure, the valve V and lever L fall to their proper position and steam is shut from the whistle. Thus the instrument continually stands, ever ready, and ever watchful; always detecting low water before there is the least danger of an accident from that cause; always detecting high water before steam is reduced, or water is forced into the engine, and always detecting, announcing, and relieving too high steam pressure before injury can arise from it. After an announcement from the whistle is given, the immediate wants of the boiler will readily be seen by a glance at the steam gage G, and the glass indicator I.

The governing weight H will control and give any height or range of water that may be desired in the boiler before having an announcement by moving it toward or from the pivot, or center of the instrument.

The steam; gage G is the ordinary gage and continually points to the number of pounds pressure the boiler is carrying for the moment.

The lass indicator is like the common one, and aflords facility for seeingthe level of the water in the boiler at the instant the eye is upon it.

It is quite evident that a greater number of vessels than two may be employed and connected, also that their connection with each other may be varied in shape and appearance from that shown in the drawings,

or by the model, and still secure the same operation of the instrumentsubstantially as specified, detecting both high and low water, by simply making a continuous connection and passage for water or steam throughout the vessels employed, and placing the several vessels at varied heights, so as to receive water in one or more for high water, and. deliver or discharge 'water whenever low water happens.

I do not claim an instrument with only one vessel, operated by the weight of, or want of water in it, in any manner or for any purpose; but

I do claim 1. The application and combination of two or more hollow vessels, as A, B, of any size or shape, so placed and arranged in an instrument, that when it is attached to the boiler as specified, one of the said vessels will be higher than the other or others, and higher than the usual water level in the boiler, and one of the said vessels will be lower than the other or others, and lower than the usual water level in the boiler, each vessel connected with the other by means of tubes C, C, C, C or their equivalents in such manner as to secure a continuous passage for water or steam .through the said vessels and connections-the whole instrument suspended and turning on the pivot P or its equivalent, operating as, and for the purpose of detecting high and low water in boilers substantially as described.

2. In combination with the above the governing weight H of any size or shape, attached to the instrument at any place, as and for the purpose set forth, operating, and controlling the range of water substantially as specified, and changing the balancing power of the instrument.

HENRY F. HART.

lVitnesses CI-IAs. E. FROST, J 0s. A. ANDREws. 

